Semi-weekly south Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1883-1889, 1887-09-20
ROGER LAROQUE.
Adapted and Translated from the French
Of Jules Mary.
BY OLIVE HARPER

SYou saw me-you two they pretend
You hear them tell me that you accuse me,
that you saw me- Speak, PROTEST. Rise
and tell that man who accuses me that he
has he'd about it, that it is not, could not,
be true; that you could not have seen Roger
Laroq commit crime Of which he is in
capable
They could not speak. He still grasped
their arms and begged them to deny this
foul charge At last Henrietta rose from
her chair, and with difficulty stood before
him.
"Henriette, Suzanne, what ails you'll Are
you sickl What have they done to you that
you cannot speakln
Roger said Henriette, painfully, an. Dc
Lignerolles Is wrong to tell you that we were
witnesses to murder For three days they
have pursued us, Suzanne and me, to force
us to avow what we have not seen. have
but to repeat TO you, in my own name and
that Of my child, what we have already said
many times. We know nothing of how that
murder was committed, and we do not know
why they dare accuse you"
"Ah, that relieves me. You have spoken.
1t is impossible that you could have seen me,
since / was not there but for an instant !
vas frightened Of l know not what" Then,
Surning to the judge, no cried:
why did you bring my wife and child
here, telling me that they were witnessed
You go beyond -FOUR power Us judge You
have Just told me falsehood, which my wife
has proved to bs one The law, perhaps.
justihes such deviations from truth, but do
mott
The magistrate answered gently, for he
pitied that poor mother and child
ut Is proven that they saw YOU
"ProvedP said Liroque, Gained by SUI
preIne effort AHem iette, you hear. l can
say nothing. What ,io you sayT'
THAT cannot be, sil ce l understand moth
ing of what they ask az me-"
Victoria was recallod, and the poor servant
repeated word for wo,d what she had said
before. emitting nothing. Roger listened
breathless, his nerves strung to their highes;
tension, md trying 10 comprehend. Then he
rose with hnggard eyes and stretched out his
hand, saying:
"Take care Of mel I feel ! am going madp
After n long silence he seemed to under
stand, little by little Now he knew. Hen
!iette and Suzanne had seen. but WHAT They
had refused to speak. Whyi He must know
Roger threw himself OH his knees before his
wife, took her hands and caressed them, and
then, as though he would have spoken TO u
elild he said:
"rell the truth. Is it true that you saw
met You denied it, did you notl Up
TO the last minute you say that you did
did not see that murder committed, and Su-
Eanne said the same. They questioned you
in vain. But now. my dear wife, and you,
my little daughter, must tell all Do not DO
afraid, since am not guilty, TO tell all you
know They accuse me, but perhaps your
testimony will prove my innocence"
He held his wifeis and child's hands all
gathered in his and he kissed them all to-
gether. Mother and child. with pale faces,
kept silence.
The magistrate interviewed.
81 brought you into the presence of your
husband" said he, because I hope still that
you will listen to his prayers and understand
that you had better tell all GU saw, no mat
ter what it was, for his sake, than TO keep this
strange silence. Your husband will tell you
palmer than l can that it is in his interest
that you speak. To all Of us it is evident that
you and your child saw this murder. The
gravest charge hangs over your husbands
head Therefore, II you refuse TO speak IL Is
because your husband is guilty in your eyes"
Then, turning toward the unhappy Roger,
be continued:
Explain well to your wife and your
daughter, and may you be happier than we
weren
"Henriette, you hear What the judge says
What he says is true, dear. Your silence APP
pears very strange to them, and naturally
they believe that Victoria tells tho truth
Now know that you could not have seen mo
ut the cottage and have nothing TO fear; SO,
my darling, since / am innocent, and YOU
could not have seen me, II you did sec any.
body you should tell 1t, even in my interest
SO, Henriette, my wife, tell us what you
know"
Still no sound, no movement from Hem
riette, who seemed like one magnetized.
"Did you hear me, Henriette!n
She made an affirmative sign.
"Why then persist in this silence, which Il
my condemnatlonn
al have nothing TO say"
"Henriettel Victoria's testimony Is precise
And your trouble, your pallor and your
strange manner betray you. And Iremem-
Der now that Suzanne was i'll the next dav
and had commissions. o, my wife! il l have
ever deserved any kindness at your hands
have pity on me now and tell us what YOU
saw
mot having seen anything can certainly
tell you nothing"
80, Henrlette, you accuse me! am your
husband, and In spite of my innocence, you
condemn mel"
What superhuman force kept this poor
wife alive during these horrible moments
none can tell. To speak was TO prove him
guilty; to keep silent to accuse him. Again
Roger begged her by every endearing term to
tell him what she saw; lie blended with tears
standing In his eyes, and recalling their eight
years OF life together, and asking her in what
had he offended her that she should thus III
5ure him Her lips remained closed, but her
eyes said: Lilies, liesl"
He rose to his foet discouraged and walked
back and forth moment, and then stopping
before her said:
"Henriette, you are condemning me. You
love me no longer, perhaps never did. but re-
member, whatever comes, that l love you,
and shall love you as long as l live. That
shall be your punishment and my revenge.
have done all could, NJ. De Lignerollos.6
The judge pointed with his finger to
Suzanne, who was seated on her mothers
lap. Roger understood. One last hope re-
manned.
IL pray you, have my wife removed. . said
Roger. Henriette arose and retired 60 tho
ante ROOM Roger took the child in his
arms and lifted her above his bead smiling